Christianity, Humans and Animals

[Harry3142]

ToHoldNothing-

We do have responsibilities toward the other species, as well as authority over them. We see to it that our pets are porperly vaccinated; we also see to it that they are limited as to where they can travel so as to protect others around us.

With wild animals it becomes trickier. The philosophy used to be that if we simply left them alone they would work things out for themselves. But actual observation has shown that instead certain species simply use up all their resources, and then all of the species in that area suffer.

Now we have a 'wasting disease' that has been found in whitetail deer in West Virginia and Kentucky, but not Ohio. This disease is so virulent that the mortality rate is 100%. It's also infectious. So far it's said that humans cannot contract the diseas, but other deer can contract it easily.

 

[ToHoldNothing]

Complete non interventionism is dangerous, agreed. But there is the excess of intervention, not to mention the amount of discretion and discernment that would be needed to realize the effects on ecosystems that would occur with even introducing one species into the habitat.

 

[ivebeenshown]

Not even getting so much into the evolution/creation/design debate, I wonder how the admittance or denial of theologians and Christians in general of humans as animals or not animals relates to our general treatment of humans and animals.

I believe animal abuse is immoral because it allows violent and disturbing behaviors to flourish. For me it is not a matter of whether or not the animal is hurt or uncomfortable or anything like that, but how it relates to the well-being of humanity. So some things like animal testing (for well-intending purposes) are necessary but anything that is done to satisfy some sadistic desire is unacceptable and evil because it may advance to humans.

There were those Ukrainian kids a couple years ago that started one summer tormenting cats and moved on to a killing spree of twenty-two people, and they took pictures and videos of it all. Animal abuse is a horrible thing and a sure sign of psychological issues.

 

[ToHoldNothing]

The distinction is therefore moreso how the action reflects on general virtues as opposed to favoritism towards animals, which is problematic, especially when you start regarding everything in a utilitarian or egalitarian fashion.